2024 must be “a year of determination, efficiency and results”, declared the President of the Republic during a 13-minute speech, delivered from the Élysée gardens, in front of the flags of the Olympic nations in view of the Paris Olympics.
“I will have the opportunity in the coming weeks to tell you how our nation will meet these challenges,” added Emmanuel Macron. He thanked “especially” the head of government and her ministers while rumors of a reshuffle, or even a change at Matignon, are circulating.
“Action is not an option”
“Action is not an option. Action is our duty for future generations. This is why I will tirelessly be on the side of those who act in the service of the country (…) Never on the side of those who favor the electoral calculations, small arrangements or their personal interests,” continued the president. “We must therefore continue this rearmament of the nation in the face of the disruption of the world. Because strength of character is the virtue of difficult times,” he added.
“I of course know the impatience, even if the first changes are visible,” said Mr. Macron, praising his policy of “economic rearmament” and assuming his “unpopular” but “necessary for the country” pension reform, and succinctly mentioning the recently adopted immigration law, also voted for by the right and the National Rally.
“We will have to choose a stronger and more sovereign Europe”
“After economic rearmament, the rearmament of the State and our public services, we will have to begin our civic rearmament. France is a culture, a history, a language, universal values which can be learned from the youngest age. In every generation,” Mr. Macron also declared.
Emmanuel Macron also addressed the international situation, the conflict in the Middle East, that between Russia and Ukraine, and the European elections. A “decisive choice” which, according to him, will be played out between “continuing Europe or blocking it”.
“We will have to make the choice for a stronger and more sovereign Europe in light of the legacy of Jacques Delors,” he said, and choose between “affirming the strength of our liberal democracies or giving in to lies who sows chaos.